The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1887-12-29
ABILITY OF womEN.
rho Strong Administrative Capacity IN
the Weaker SEX.

The managing mamma is character
that stands out in history. Peculiar to
no one time or locality, she is of that
cosmopolitan caste which results from
her having fourished in all ages. all
countries and among all sorts and con-
ditions of women. She is one of those
great world-links that bind past and
present together, enabling us to trace,
under different exteriors, those funda-
mental features that make of the hui
man race enc great family. As the
embryonic mother-in-law she has OBJ
tanned a most unsavory reputation in
life and literature, and he must possess
the robaOr et as tripleE who would enter
the list as her champion, Nevertheless,
there is creditable SIDE to the man.
aging mamma which has not yet met
the serious recognition it deserves. To
be successful in this sphere of labor de-
maRds diplomatic and administrative
capacity of very hi h order, and too
many men who hosp scorn and rhicule
upon such a woman do not possess
1.-THE of her executive ability, Ancient
legend typifies the fiasco of man with
aspiration in this direction in the in
structive examples of Danaus. With
what ease and skill would managing
mamma" compass so trifiBy matter
! as the settlement of fifty or more
daughters. But the only nan on re-
cord who attempted it Sc bungled the
affair that he not only achieved his
children's misery in this life. but con-
demned them to endless torment in
Hades. Nome of these nd Greek stories
are meaningless, and We here see fedS-
Swallowed the fact, which is as true to-
day as in the early time-that man
aging mammas and not managing
papas are 20 decide She destiny of Au-
manity.
But, seriously, this famous character
epitonizes the gro1t native talent,
amounting to positive genius. that
women possess for the conduct of af-i5
fairs. 1t has beer stored up almost,
silently and handel down gntl 1T has,
now became hereditary. For centuries
women have been fin a great training
school, 'There theEr power as admins
traitors has been steadily developed and
expantiUj. The amount of Organiaatien
involved in the RAINING of TIC simplest
household can be- appreciated only by
horselseepers themselves. To planthree
daily meals for tie 365 daYss6 theyyesr;
to train or bear with incOmpetenceiin
the Asftchen; to contriye with ,slenkser
nseans, and, fs ally, to so combine
hundssd details that they siISllmalle an
harmonious whole. demands talent bhat
would do credit to a General. Yet, IN
oastFUsively, anil as a matter of coarse,
women have proved themselves ,'szch
administrators, ISit strazg e that when
tbeir-'sphere'' was limitedBO fouroHaIls
tkis power spent itself in managing not
3,sly children, but, too often, rtheslerds
aEldsEaasters &c boot?
This capacity has so grained, 9iwing
generations scf comparative inaction
that&t is impossible to loagerset bounds
sC.lj2aitS to its enterprise. There is
large number of women whose hsuse-
holds do notentirely absorb ,theipeener-
gies, and there is large sclass without
asEJ-aaousehcld to conduct; the ,infllien-
able. right.6f such to manage demands
and will more and mere obtain its
nIstLral outlet. One cannotbatTejoice
atsfise constantly increasiPGpublieBpi
eFineed by women, especially IL the
fish, of hilaRthropy, but we WIZ VEN
tUP1 to say that Il large proportion
undertake. these enterprises fronl.a con-
sciaas or unconscious desire to manage
s0nEe thing. They act rs presidents
aRdsilirectoys of our baErevolent5insti-
tufiens, and display signal ability in
these positions. Their achievements
have almast>surpassedt2 e .slander1hat
w0Haen soan not understand business. |
ana 40 the men who inviGhoEsly remark |
that women Go not rpp thingssn a |
business, basis, but are oeRstantiy'beg-
gins for money, it may fse answered |
thatwghcn.Nzsmen have capital such |
as rasp use IN doing similar work they !
will R0 longer beg for aloney, to cary
on tilSir varisus charitable enterprises. |
Theme has always existed q very large |
nunllsar of men who have so guOand |
dowH their uwives and daughters that
the 2atter 'ds not expect TO handle
moneg. We all know those splendid |
women who fare sumptuensly every
day, kIEt whOAre forced Ito beg every
So note frOmstheir masculine heads. 1t
is an liz windbthat blows no good. sanG
the piasehing and continuing that so
many women have been fasced into
under these circumstances has made
economy an instinct with them,s that
as manageIs they can achieve equal ref
suits with fat less outlay than men.H
Women are nov doing valuahle,workI
on school and church boards according |.
10 the unanimous testimony .eS men
who have observed them in these fields. =
They are making successful business
as Proprietors of scores and
hetels. They may not at the present
ste ge possess that calmnesS Aad even
ness of spirit Nkaich would make of
thein judicious hpyers and sellers. but
rs sIperintendentS.O mercantile houses
hey would employ and controa help
wit& an economy and efficiency Gkat
would aSonish the men of the firm.
There is no doubt that women are to
.omns.e with men fs this field. They
are hat always 10 remain in subosdi-
nate positions rs sten9graphers, clerks